3Two popular offerings are becoming bigger than ever on Disney Cruise Line this year as Halloween and Christmas festivities reach out to all four ships.
What began last year as Halloween on the High Seas only aboard the Disney Dream will reach the Disney Fantasy, Disney Magic, and Disney Wonder including “A Nightmare Before Christmas” fun along with the now-iconic Pumpkin Tree. Then over the Christmas season, all four ships will feature Very Merrytime Cruises that include tree lightings, special meals, and even snow flurries.
The full press releases are below.
Halloween on the High Seas 2014
Disney Cruise Line will treat guests sailing this fall to a spook-tacular good time as the Disney ships transform into a ghoulish wonderland filled with frightfully fun events and activities, special decorations, unique menu items in the restaurants and themed parties on deck.
In 2014, Halloween on the High Seas takes place on most voyages aboard all Disney Cruise Line ships from late September through October. This extra-spooky celebration features Halloween-themed parties, lively entertainment and elaborate décor, including The Pumpkin Tree, which magically transforms throughout the cruise. Other special experiences include:
Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party, a celebration in addition to Pirate Night with games, dancing and lots of candy! Beloved Disney characters, wearing special Halloween costumes just for the occasion, will join guests for this fun-filled costume party.
A Nightmare Before Christmas—Sing and Scream, an interactive movie experience where guests are part of the action, followed by a meet-and-greet with Jack Skellington and Sally.
Haunted Stories of the Sea, where the bravest cruisers gather under the stars to hear some true—or not so true—tales of the sea told by a mysterious sea captain storyteller.
Creepy Cabaret, a party in the atrium featuring favorite Halloween-themed music performed live by a band of ghostly musicians.
Halloween Isn’t Just For Kids: For adults, the nighttime entertainment district on each Disney ship becomes the ghoulish setting for a costume contest and a Villainous Takeover on the dance floor.
Spooky Movies: To get guests into the spirit of the season, Halloween-themed movies will be shown in Buena Vista Theatre, on Funnel Vision by the family pool and in guest staterooms.
Ghoulish Delights: Disney Cruise Line chefs have conjured some very special treats for Halloween, including chocolate cake with pumpkin filling, spider cakes and “Spooky Juice.”
More spooky fun includes mask-making and a ghostly takeover of the ship announcements!
To celebrate Halloween, the Disney Magic sails three-, five- and seven-night Bahamian and Caribbean cruises departing Sept. 27 to Oct. 26; the Disney Wonder sails four-, five- and six-night Bahamian cruises departing Sept. 26 to Oct. 31; the Disney Dream sails three- and four-night Bahamian cruises departing Sept. 7 to Oct. 31; and the Disney Fantasy sails seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises departing Sept. 6 to Oct. 25.
A more in-depth look at the first year of Halloween on the High Seas can be found here.
Very Merrytime Cruises 2014
This holiday season, give a gift that’s both nautical and nice: a cruise on the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream or Disney Fantasy, all decked to the “raft-ers” with holiday cheer. Starting late November, Disney Cruise Line adds sparkle to each ship during Very Merrytime Cruises, with traditional “turkey day” fanfare, Christmas feasts, “snow flurries” and New Year’s Eve galas. But the best part might just be relaxing on deck instead of shoveling snow.
During these voyages through the new year, special stem-to-stern holiday events include:
“King Triton’s Tree Lighting Ceremony” in the atrium lobby on the first night of the cruise, where a young guest helps Disney characters light the glittering, three-deck-tall tree.
Family holiday activities including building gingerbread houses and meeting Santa Claus.
Youth holiday crafts such as decorating stockings and gingerbread men cookies, making holiday cards and creating holiday animation cells.
Holiday storytellers sharing tales of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, plus a story just for Disney Cruise Line guests about the magical feeling of the holidays on a ship.
“Deck the Deck Holiday Party,” a tropical celebration with Disney friends leading games such as hula hooping and limbo under oversized candy canes, along with dances for the whole family like the “Yuletide Slide” and a conga line around the pool.
“Til We Meet Again” features a special holiday edition of Disney Cruise Line’s cheerful farewell on the final night of each cruise with beloved Disney characters and the ship’s crew in an engaging musical finale led by Mickey Mouse.
On Thanksgiving Day, guests will enjoy a bountiful Thanksgiving Day feast, visits from Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse dressed in traditional Thanksgiving attire, and a special turkey towel animal in their stateroom upon turndown. Also during the special Thanksgiving voyages, big NFL football games will be broadcast live on the ships’ outdoor, jumbo LED screen—Funnel Vision—located near the family pool.
Christmas morning at the atrium lobby tree Santa Claus and his elves will have a surprise for all the kids. Guests will also enjoy caroling from the crew choir plus a special musical performance from the children. A traditional Christmas Dinner will be served that night in the dining rooms.
Christmas services will be held on Christmas Day with a midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Hanukkah services will be held each day, Dec. 16 to Dec. 24.
When the ships stop at Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay, during the holidays, the celebration continues with “snow flurries,” a decked-out Christmas tree, Disney character meet-and-greets and holiday island music.
For an extra sprinkle of holiday joy, mini Christmas trees decorated with ornaments, red berries, mini carnations and a bow topper, in addition to special holiday-themed gift packages and treat baskets, are available for purchase prior to the voyages for stateroom delivery. Plus, during the holiday cruises, Disney Cruise Line’s holiday merchandise collection, along with the ever-popular Disney Cruise Line ornaments, will be available onboard in the gift shops.
To ring in 2015, voyages include a special New Year’s Eve party, complete with music, sparkling wine in commemorative flutes and a midnight countdown.
To celebrate the holidays, the Disney Magic sails seven-night Western Caribbean cruises departing Nov. 23 to Dec. 28; the Disney Wonder sails four- and five-night Bahamian and Caribbean cruises departing Nov. 23 to Dec. 30; the Disney Dream sails three- and four-night Bahamian cruises departing Nov. 24 to Dec. 29; and the Disney Fantasy sails seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises departing Nov. 22 to Dec. 27.